How To Focus On Large Bass Only 2024
hoosierbass07 reply :
I'm in Indiana and I have been out on the water more in my kayak, fishing for bass in small to medium ponds. I catch lots of small bass but the large bass are few and far between.
What I want to do is stop catching those small ones and only go after the large bass. But I'm not sure how to go about that.
I usually use a Texas rig or split shot 5-7 inch worm.
Are there any lures that small bass don't go after but large ones do? Would jigs fall into this category? I don't carry jigs and have not used any this year. Large spinnerbaits, crankbaits?
Any recommendations on lures that lower the odds of small bass but increases the odds of larger bass being caught?
David D. reply :
Big worms. Like, 10" Zoom Ol' Monsters.
Generally, bigger baits aren't as likely to catch smaller fish.
Mr_Scrogg reply :
Jigs, Swimbaits. But dont discount smaller baits.
My boy (9yrs old) got his PB of 3lb-10oz on a 3/32 jighead.
livetofish28 reply :
1 word SWIMBAITS
Tight lines
Andrew
HeavyFisher reply :
I used to catch tons and tons of smaller fish. When I switched to swimbaits I started a lot less fish but ALL of them were 4+lbs.
A-Jay reply :
What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.
The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.
Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.
A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.
Though written a few years back, it's full of just what you're looking for and more.
By applying the information to your area, you will definitely be headed in the right direction.
Good Luck
A-Jay
hoosierbass07 reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 1:06 AM, A-Jay said:What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.
The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.
Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.
A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.
Yep, I have that book. It's one of my favorites.
I've been taking two rods with me on my kayak. Maybe I'll have one swimbait tied on and maybe a jig with trailer on another.
timsford reply :
try mattlures gill swimbaits. My ten biggest bass(the biggest was 9 lbs) have all been caught on ultimate gills and hardgills) the u2 gill weighs an ounce and can be thrown on most medium heavy and heavy bass rods so u dont have to carry a dedicated swimbait rod in the yak. ive also caught some big ones in ponds at night on 10 inch worms and 3/4 ounce spinnerbaits but nothing like the ones ive caught on bluegill swimbaits
einscodek reply :
Think about it this way. Its not that big bass eat big baits only.. they will eat big and little..depending on the season, time of day, mood, personality.
When you toss a lil bait out there and the bass are hungry, the smaller bass are also going after it and they are generally more aggressive imo and will hammer it before the big gals get to them.
By presenting a big bait, you are culling out the potential smaller sized bass from taking on yer lure and hoping the bigger gals are hungry and willin.
I used to toss big bait and still do.. but I like to catch more than 1-2 fish an outing so I also go after the small and medium fish.
Its all about what yer after. Many times in going after big fish, you have nothing to show for at the end of the day.
gobig reply :
You need to find out where the largest fish around you live. I know this is repetitive but If your fishing ponds that don't hold big fish then you will never get one. Catching big fish is more about location, boat position, and presentation then it is about the bait in my opinion. My fish over 10 have come on various baits, crankbait, dropshot, spinnerbait, texas rig, swimbaits. With that said I feel my chances throwing a swimbait are the best. A-Jay suggested a great book. I would also recommend the BBZ book and google Bill Siemantle, Mike Long and Butch Brown. Watch anything available from these guys.
WRB reply :
Not sure what larger size bass means to you?
Bill Murphy's book referenced is excellent at many levels, adult bass behavior being very important.
Trophy bass fishing is different than recreational bass fishing because it requires a lot of dedication to details and learning about the fish you are trying to catch.
Good luck.
Tom
LMB KING reply :
Big swimbaits
Punching, flippin & pitchin
Big worms
My biggest bass was over 15 pounds and i got it with a big worm. And the big 25 pound bass in california was caught on a jig, you can see the video yourself on youtube. Swimbait will get you big bass as well, but some people think that only swimbaits are the only big bass lure but is untrue. So those jigs,big worms and swimbaits will get you bass.
bigbill reply :
The book on big bass is good I just purchased it. I'm thinking any more knowledge is good.
A 12" worm will also catch you a 13" fish.
Big bait big bass is true somewhat.
All I can add is when the bite is on and it slows down during the day upside your lure.
Example; I'm throwing a mepps #3 and catching bass after bass. Different smaller sizes. The bite stops. I switch to a #4 or #5
Mepps inline the same colors and I find the fish are bigger. To
Me the bigger fish come in closer when the smaller fish are biting scaring the smaller ones away. It seems they don't strike the smaller lure.
During the early evening the color your using changes from natural colors to brighter colors as it gets darker.
Example, I'm throwing a Joe's fly in blackgnat the bite is on.
As it gets darker the bite stops. I switch to a Joe's fly in firetiger apache and land a few more fish till it's dark.
Do this in reverse for the dark early am to dawn.
Go from brighter colors as the sky lights up then natural colors as the sun is up.
My PB of 10# was caught at 5am on chartreuse as the night turned to day. It was twilight.
When your in a situation when the bite stops try my suggestions.
To catch DD size bass first you need to be constant at catching any bass. The more you fish the more you will learn. Keep a log for every trip. Write it all down. Lure size, type, presentation, speed, colors. Record the moon phases.
When the bass are larger there main diet is craws and sunnies.
Go with big worms, larger cranks, sunfish and perch lures.
Fish_Whisperer reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 1:06 AM, A-Jay said:What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.
The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.
Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.
A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.
Though written a few years back, it's full of just what you're looking for and more.
By applying the information to your area, you will definitely be headed in the right direction.
Good Luck
A-Jay
My copy is on it's way, should be here Tuesday, can't wait!
BassWhole! reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 2:26 AM, gobig said:You need to find out where the largest fish around you live. I know this is repetitive but If your fishing ponds that don't hold big fish then you will never get one. Catching big fish is more about location, boat position, and presentation then it is about the bait in my opinion. My fish over 10 have come on various baits, crankbait, dropshot, spinnerbait, texas rig, swimbaits. With that said I feel my chances throwing a swimbait are the best. A-Jay suggested a great book. I would also recommend the BBZ book and google Bill Siemantle, Mike Long and Butch Brown. Watch anything available from these guys.
This ^. Catching larger fish is a matter of finding larger fish, which is more difficult not because they are smarter, or have seen lots of lures, or have grown weary. Its more difficult because there are fewer of them. Sure bass behave differently as they grow, but so do most species. All that info is out there.
hoosierbass07 reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 5:35 AM, WRB said:Not sure what larger size bass means to you?
Here's a video I made a few days ago with two bass I caught. I would like to stop catching bass that size and catch larger ones. I will admit this - I only used a seven inch worm but I had another rod with me with an 11/0 hook and 10.5 inch Yum Mightee Worm but I did not use it since I started with the seven inch Berkley Powerbait worm and was getting lots of bites on that. I think Bill Murphy said in his book when he starts out with a worm and catches a bass, he then moves up to a larger worm. I guess my mistake was not moving to the ten inch worm I had ready to go.
RoLo reply :
The most effective way to bolster stringer weight is a change in 'location', not a change in lure.
Roger
Catt reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 9:31 AM, RoLo said:The most effective way to bolster stringer weight is a change in 'location', not a change in lure.
Roger
Y'all can put all the focus on lures...Roger & I will be putting ours on location & catching!
gallowaypt reply :
An 11/0 hook!! I would think a 5/0 or 6/0 would suffice.
gobig reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 7:48 AM, reason said:This ^. Catching larger fish is a matter of finding larger fish, which is more difficult not because they are smarter, or have seen lots of lures, or have grown weary. Its more difficult because there are fewer of them. Sure bass behave differently as they grow, but so do most species. All that info is out there.
There are more big fish than people think there are and they are more predictable than people think.
papajoe222 reply :
The biggest obsticle to overcome when targeting big fish is the desire to catch fish. By that I mean that you can't go out to target big fish and expect to catch fish every outing. It's very discouraging to put time on the water without anything to show for it and that's the downfall for many anglers. They'd like to catch bigger fish, but they still want to catch some fish so they abandon their quest for bigger fish to fulfill their need to catch.
I just spent six hours on the water in search of another 5lb+ bass which is the benchmark I use as a big fish in my area. I had three bites and zero fish in the boat while others within eyesight were catching 2-3lb. fish with regularity. I know I could have caught a good number of fish over the course of six hours, but I made up my mind to target big fish.
When you can totaly focus on your goal, catching fish looses it's attraction. The easiest way I've found to do that is to set aside outings to satisfy my desire to catch fish. The reminder that you have the skills to catch fish goes a long way toward obtaining the mind set necessary to be a true hawg hunter.
Big Fish Rice reply :
First, if we're talking post spawn conditions, get away from the bank. Location, location, location.
I'm a much better angler at finding big fish than I am at finding numbers. Not sure if it's because I enjoy hunting larger fish for the most part, or if I just have the "eye" for finding and putting in time for bigger fish. Ultimately, regardless of how I do it, I usually end up finding quality over quantity and I wouldn't have it any other way. (Except for tournaments lol)
Larger baits work, yes. Swimbaits are big fish baits, yes. Jigs are big fish baits, yes. But there's a point where you really need to undestand the body of water to help you dial in bigger bites. For one lake in my area, it's all jigs. For another, swimbaits. For my favorite, it's flipping and pitching 5" creature baits. The difference between them all is the available cover and prey that the fish eat, but if I stray from these baits, I end up catching small fish.
Try some obvious places like wood, docks, cover, etc. Try some not so obvious places like underwater points, sublte depth changes. If you go more than an hour or two without hooking into a "big" fish, whatever that is in your mind, don't be afraid to change what you're doing. Experimentation is the key.
Slade House reply :
I caught a 8.7 (as you see in my pic) and a 7.6 in a 2 day period in January , and a half dozen 6lbers in the exact same spot. Find a tree or stump that is on top of a hump or at the top of a drop off to find big bass.
All of my the fish above were caught using missile baits . Try baby d-bombs , green pumpkin or green pumpin red , texas rigged with a tungsten 1/4 oz green pumpkin weight with a red wide gap gamu hook. or u can use a stand up shaky head. after you cast out , let it sit still for a minute or 2 and then twitch it slightly .
Bankbeater reply :
One more vote for location. Sometimes the DNR will report on the size of bass in certain lakes.
BassWhole! reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 12:57 PM, gobig said:There are more big fish than people think there are and they are more predictable than people think.
I don't disagree with that, but barring some unnatural condition(s) there will be lots more smaller fish.
Brian6428 reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 1:06 AM, A-Jay said:What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.
The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.
Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.
A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.
Though written a few years back, it's full of just what you're looking for and more.
By applying the information to your area, you will definitely be headed in the right direction.
Good Luck
A-Jay
In Pursuit of Giant Bass.png
Not trying to derail the topic here, but are you still doing that "in pursuit of giant bass" thread, A-Jay? I really enjoyed following your experiences learning to stitch but haven't seen it for a while.
OP: Ultimately I think it is more about the "where" than the "what." Big bass can be caught on a 5" worm on a drop shot, or a 3/32 shaky head like shown above. I find that generally there are places where only little bass live. There are other places, normally nearer deeper water, where little AND big bass live. I think if you throw any lure that is working where the big bass live, you will catch some.
That said, however, I would suggest getting a copy of "Big Bass Magic" by Doug Hannon. It focuses on shallow lakes like those found in Florida, however it spends a lot of time discussing lure choices for big fish. Here are some notes I took on the book:
Common attracting qualities of lures:
large size
bright color
compact shape (short and squat is more visible)
Slow retrieve (more time)
Unnatural noise
Mechanical Action
Common triggering qualities:
Small size (less likely to see flaws)
Natural colors and Flash
Eyespots
Fast retrieve (reaction strike)
Long, thin shape
natural noise (silent!)
Silver or gold color
random action
Hannon then states that to catch big bass, lures should have more "triggering" qualities than "attracting" qualities. In general, lures that crawl along the bottom, or come in contact with many objects, appear more like living prey to the bass due to their random action (which can be partly attributed to randomness/differences in bottom composition).
In conclusion, Hannon states that these lures are "big bass lures":
Plastic worms (it sounds like the ones you are using are too small)
Swimming worm (like the snake, which he coincidentally sold)
Original Rapala
Jig
Spinnerbait
I would highly suggest getting the book. He talks about lunar phases, best times of day, and many more things.
Brian
Felix77 reply :
The general rule of thumb is bigger baits for bigger bass. Of course you get the outlier small bass that will hit a 12" worm and get caught but in general it seems to hold true.
To me it is also about location, location, location. Schooling bass tend to be smaller in general. Those lunkers don't run around much but tend to stay near isolated cover. Some days they are tight to it and other times they are lounging around it. Combine this idea with the bigger bait and maybe you will catch yourself a lunker soon enough.
Good luck.
everythingthatswims reply :
On 6/9/2014 at 6:52 AM, LMB KING said:Big swimbaits
Punching, flippin & pitchin
Big worms
My biggest bass was over 15 pounds and i got it with a big worm. And the big 25 pound bass in california was caught on a jig, you can see the video yourself on youtube. Swimbait will get you big bass as well, but some people think that only swimbaits are the only big bass lure but is untrue. So those jigs,big worms and swimbaits will get you bass.
You mean the one they accidentally snagged on a bed?
Mattlures reply :
bed fishing and the baits used for bed fishing are a completely different game. They do not apply to regular fishing.
I agree with most of whats been posted. I will add the big worms do not seem to discourage small fish. They do seem to be more attractive to big fish so they can be a positive thing but when I have used them I still get a regular amount of small fish.
hoosierbass07 reply :
OK, I went out fishing this evening in my kayak. I had two rods - one with a Yum 10.5 inch worm with no weight on a 5/0 hook, and the other rod had on some zoom soft swimbait I bought over the winter. I used a 5/0 hook for the swimbait and small bullet sinker. I've never used swimbaits for bass before. I tried the 10.5 inch worm a little and I may have gotten one bite but not for sure. When I grabbed my swimbait rod I caught a small bass! I ended up catching three small bass and lots of bites on that swimbait. I was really shocked small bass went after it. Pretty darn cool. Now I'm a soft swimbait fan!
Mattlures reply :
That swimbait you are using is a good producer but it is not a big fish bait. It will get a big fish occasional but so will every other bait. What you want to use, are baits that consistently get bigger fish on average then other baits.
With Murphy the bait size was not as important as the location. He would anchor up all day on one spot and wait for the big fish to eat. He was not a guy who coverd water much.
Mikell reply :
When you guys say "swimbait" are you referring to the big plastic realistic fish lures like $80 or like flukes and super flukes and caffeine shad type baits?
WRB reply :
Off topic, the original Sassy Shad soft plastic kick tail lure is about 4" long and well over 30 years on the market was not considered a swimbait. The Basstrix 5 & 6" hollow body paddle tail minnow wasn't considered a swimbait out west where the original hollow body lures started this bait category. BrassTrix made trout swimbaits before the hollow body soft minnow. Today the definition of a swimbait is any swimming style lure that would include both the Sassy Shad and hollow bodies. The original term applied to lures that looked exactly like trout, baby bass, bluegill and crappie and swam at a slow natural pace.
OP,
I have looked at your video's and conclude you are more interested in making a video catching big bass, then spending the time and effort learning how to catch big bass. It's my opinion a 3-4 lb bass will satisfy your goal.
To accomplish this goal you need to relocate where you are fishing. Small juvenile bass and larger size adult bass occupy different lake areas the majority of the time. Take a look at a lake map you fish and start fishing around the longest underwater points with deeper water access and any underwater humps, rock piles or trees that top out around 3' to 8' under the water surface.
You are using spinning tackle with unknown line size, maybe 10-12 lb test? This is OK, but the hooks are way too big for the line and lures you use. Suggest going down in hook size to 3/0 for 6" to 7" worms.
Also take a look at the "less popular rigs" thread in the tackle forum and try a jig & craw worm and slip shot rig for 10-14 lb line and rig exactly as detailed. Slow down and let the big bass come to your lure.
Good luck with your goal.
Tom
David D. reply :
On 6/10/2014 at 8:33 PM, Mikell said:When you guys say "swimbait" are you referring to the big plastic realistic fish lures like $80 or like flukes and super flukes and caffeine shad type baits?
Realistic, hard plastic lures. Flukes and such will catch any size bass regularly.
CDMeyer reply :
Bass are naturaly just aggressive so even if you do up your lure sixe it will only decrease the chances of a little one hitting..... that said I would try to use maybe a 10" worm instead of a smaller one like you said you use. I for sure would carry jigs with me all the time, read the article in Bassmaster this mouth, that Cliff Pace wrote on the versatility for jigs
hoosierbass07 reply :
I was using a 5/0 hook and eight pound mono line. I used a 5/0 with that swimbait because I thought it provided a decent gap for the bass to bite down on the lure.
I almost exclusively use eight pound and six pound mono. I do have a spinning reel with ten pound mono and a baitcaster with twelve pound mono but why go up to ten and twelve when eight will do and six seems to work good too?
I'm in Indiana, not Florida or California or Texas. And I don't fish around swampy areas where one might need to horse a bass out of thick cover. I think I would only move up to larger mono if it made the lure work better. If moving up to twelve or fifteen pound mono will make the lure to look better to the bass I would be willing to use that size mono. But so far eight pound mono seems pretty satisfactory for me. If I were going to fish at some lakes that do have larger bass I would definitely take my ten pound reel.
WRB reply :
Spinning tackle with 6 and 8 lb mono is perfect for light to medium wire style hooks like Owner 5100 or Gamakatsu #11 worm hook size 3/0 for standard worms up to 7 1/2" long. The slip shot rig with 6 or 8 lb mono works better with size 1for 4 1/2" worms, size 1/0 with either of the hooks mentioned or Owner 5133 down shot hook that also works for weedless drop shot rigs. The nail weight worm rig is also good with the 8 lb spinning outfit. The above rigs catch all sizes of bass, including larger adults depending where (location on the lake) you fish. These rigs are designed for deep structure lakes like you have.
Your casting outfit with 10 lb line is marginal with heavy wire 5/0 hooks, OK with medium wire like Owner 5100 using larger diameter soft plastics. The reason is 10 lb line doesn't apply enough force to penetrate the adult size bass mouth.
I make my own jigs with 5:0 Gamakatsu #114 because the medium wire forged hook penetrates better with 10 lb line.
You need to use lures with hooks and presentations suitable for your tackle. Thank you for clarifying what your tackle is, it helps with making suggestions without guessing what is being used.
Tom
fishva reply :
First, make sure there's actually a population of large fish where you're fishing. Even though it's often outdated, DNR information can be really helpful if they cover the waters you're fishing.
Second, find structure that looks like it would give a bass a nice advantage over its prey. The bigger bass get the best spots. For example, I caught a 5.5lber last week in a lake that mostly holds smaller fish by finding a *tiny* little channel that likely offered protection from the currents above, making it a nice ambush point.
tatertester reply :
If you are using larger and heavier hook sizes , you would be well advised to use use braided line with a heavy fluorocarbon leader so you can set the hook with authority to get hook penetration......With a medium to long cast ,and in deeper water your lighter weight mono line simply will not allow you to get a good hook set because of line stretch......If your not going to listen to the advise given here you shouldn't have asked for advise........You say you don't fish around areas where you need heavier line? Well if you hook a big bass you never know what obstructions, branches,weed clumps , wood ,rocks, etc that will test your line while fighting a big fish....When you lose that big one because of line breakage,THEN you will find out why the need for heavier line and hook. 5 lb bass can be a tussle , don't need to be a 10 lber to reguire heavier hook and line.
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